2020 NFL Draft: Winners and Losers

            Well the virtual draft wasn’t a total disaster was it? At least the production and technology aspect of the event, the camera crew can’t be held liable for Roger Goodell completely botching an announcement regarding Las Vegas and the 2022 draft. With the covid-19 pandemic shutting down the NBA, MLB and any other large event, the 2020 NFL Draft was moved from the bright lights of Las Vegas, Nevada to living rooms, studies, basements and mancaves across the country. Other than an agitated commissioner, the three-day draft progressed smoothly, no miscommunication over trades, picks or such. Many will have missed the red carpet, flashy suits and atmosphere of real crowds. Nonetheless, fans tried to replicate the draft day jeers Goodell is so familiar with on his sixty-inch tv screen behind.

Commissioner Goodell welcomed millions of viewers into his mancave on Thursday night to kick off the 2020 NFL Draft. With no viewing competition from the NBA or MLB, the very first virtual draft smashed viewing figures. An average 8.4 million people tuned in over three-days, beating last year’s previous high of 6.2 million. From Kliff Kingsbury’s luxurious pad to Bill Belichick’s dog calling the shots, the draft was a unique spectacle. There was a stronger sense of community and togetherness this year than perhaps any other. By late Saturday night Mr Irrelevant (the final pick of the draft) was in the books, and we began to look back on the 255 selections and dictate the winners and losers. Who drafted well, who didn’t, who looked ahead to the future and who mean business now.

            Here are three winners and three losers from the 2020 NFL Draft:

WINNERS

            Indianapolis Colts – Some say that the people of Indiana still wake up in a cold sweat thinking about Andrew Luck and what might have been. The Colts have recruited Philip Rivers to try squeeze a Super Bowl ring out of the eight-time Pro Bowler before he hangs up the cleats. 2018’s first round pick, guard Quenton Nelson, is a Hall of Famer in the making and will provide much needed protection for old man Rivers. Having ranked 25^th in total yards per game last season, Indy wisely double-downed on offensive weapons within seven selections of each other. With their opening pick the Colts selected USC wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Last year Pittman earned his way onto the Biletnikoff Award shortlist, gifted annually to college’s top wide receiver. Standing at 6ft4, Pittman instantly becomes Rivers’ tallest target, and should see him used frequently downfield on those vertical one-on-one battles. Just seven picks later, the Colts were the perpetrators of perhaps the drafts greatest steal. Jonathan Taylor, one of the top running backs in the class, shattered records during his time with the Wisconsin Badgers. Back-to-back Doak Walker award winner (given to college’s top running back) since Darren McFadden in 06 and 07’ and three-time Heisman finalist. Taylor finished his college career as the 6th all-time rusher in NCAA history and the first running back to rush for over 6,000 yards in a three-year span. Colts fans unacquainted with college football have no idea what they’re in for. Indianapolis went about this draft very subtly and found potential successors for two legends at the tail end and into undrafted free agency. Round four saw the Colts pick up a potential long-term answer at quarterback. Washington Huskies’ Jacob Eason was nabbed with the 122^nd overall pick. Eason, 6ft6 230lbs, is a similar build to veteran Philip Rivers, with a comparable playing style. Both are pocket generals with frightening arm strength and clever field vision. Eason shouldn’t see any action his rookie year but will likely learn a lot from Rivers’ sixteen-years’ experience. An undrafted addition to the side could be the most rewarding in years to come. Georgia’s cult hero kicker, Rodrigo ‘Hotrod’ Blankenship, ended his college career with a flawless PAT record. 2019’s Lou Groza Award winner (for the college placekicker of the year) might be a perfect answer to the future Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri. Indianapolis nailed this year’s draft. If the bags of potential are met, Indianapolis could be dark horses in 2020.

Drew Lock – In just five NFL starts Drew Lock has led Denver to a 4-1 record with the solitary defeat coming against their divisional rivals and Super Bowl winners Kansas City. Lock showed flashes of a capable franchise QB in those five starts and although he’s a long way off John Elway or Peyton Manning in the hearts of the Broncos Nation, he succeeded with a very limited receiving core. Elway, the General Manager, emphasised the importance of supporting Drew Lock in drafting numerous receivers. Denver spent four selections on extra receiving options. Their first pick, 15^th overall, Jerry Jeudy of Alabama was the Biletnikoff Award winner of 2018. Jeudy might be the most elusive wideout the 2020 draft class had to offer; the man can do just about everything. Quick, good footwork, safe hands, moves fluidly making it hard to tackle. Jeudy can play on the outside, running post routes, corner routes, just about any kind, or you can line him up on the inside in the slot role. Along with four brand new tools to work with, Drew Lock has been given some extra protection in the form of LSU’s centre Lloyd Cushenberry. Denver’s 194.7 average passing yards per game ranked 28^th (bottom five) in the league in 2019. The Broncos also sat 28^th in total average yards on the year with just 298.6. Drew Lock is being surrounded with an arsenal of weapons, fully expect to see the Denver Broncos further up the scoring charts next year. There’s a long way to go for this franchise but Elway is tapping into that offensive mindset that gave him success as a player decades ago.

Baltimore Ravens – It seems unfair that the team with the best regular season record walked away from the draft with one of the top classes. Baltimore were 1^st in rush yards per game in 2019 with 206.0 and have just stolen a dynamic playmaker in Ohio State’s J.K Dobbins. Dobbins, a capable pass catcher as well as forceful running back, is the only Buckeye to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season. The Ravens ranked 5^th in rush defence on the year and whilst they didn’t need to prioritise their defensive line, they struck gold. Before drafting anybody, they snatched Pro Bowler Calais Campbell from the Jaguars. In the 3^rd round they added to their defensive line with Justin Madubuike, one of the top ranked defensive tackles in the class. Madubuike was tipped by many as a potential early 2^nd rounder. Only the 14^th overall pick Javon Kinlaw, recorded more sacks for a defensive tackle in the SEC last season. This formidable Ravens defence should be terrifying next season, especially with their addition of LSU line-backer Patrick Queen, who registered eighty-five tackles, three sacks and an interception on his way to a National Championship last year. Queen was their first pick at 28^th overall and will likely replace Patrick Onwuasor who left the team in free agency. Barring any disastrous injuries, Baltimore are serious Super Bowl contenders.

LOSERS

New England Patriots – Football’s greatest dynasty looks to be over. Tom Brady, the key component to their six Super Bowl successes, has moved on to a new chapter in Tampa. The Pats never truly ace the draft, accumulating most of their best players in the later rounds and even free agency. Some have even pondered the conspiracy theory that the Pats will ‘tank’ the 2020 campaign to ensure they pick up the promising Clemson quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, in next year’s draft. Setting up a new era of supremacy. Belichick’s passion for the game and natural winning mindset tell me that the three-time AP coach of the year couldn’t live with himself purposely sabotaging a year of football. New England traded out of the opening round, therefore sacrificing their chance of picking up the dual threat talent Jordan Love. Robert Kraft’s organisation abstained from picking up a quarterback as the draft continued and the quality on offer declined. Last year’s 4^th round selection, Jarrett Stidham, might turn out to be the real winner here. Stidham will battle 34-year-old journeyman Brian Hoyer and recently acquired free-agent Brian Lewerke of Michigan State for the starting job in 2020. The Patriots didn’t exactly support Stidham with a new batch of receivers, but they did fill a gap left by future Hall of Fame tight-end Rob Gronkowski. In back to back selections in round three, New England picked up tight-ends Devin Asiasi (91^st overall) from UCLA and Virginia Tech’s Dalton Keene (101^st overall). New England spent their first selection on a safety. With LSU’s Grant Delpit still on the board, the 2019 Jim Thorpe Award winner (given to college’s top defensive back), the Patriots questionably opted for Kyle Dugger of the unknown school Lenoir-Rhyne instead. More surprises were in store for Patriots fans watching around the country. New England picked up the first kicker in this season’s draft, Justin Rohrwasser, even though book-keepers favourite, Rodrigo Blankenship, was still available. The Pats’ only positive transactions were the introduction of edge rushers Josh Uche, 60^th overall from Michigan, and Anfernee Jennings, 87^th out of Alabama. Ironically, one of the areas the Patriots are already well established, having allowed the least yards per game in 2019 at 275.9. Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche had eight sacks each last season, this could really boost the Patriots, who’s 47 sacks on the year were 7^th in the league. They do say defence wins championships but the people of Massachusetts shouldn’t hold their breath. 

Pittsburgh Steelers – Whilst the rest of the AFC North took strides in the right direction on draft weekend, Pittsburgh failed to excite. 2019’s 8-8 finish was the Steelers’ worst since 2013. By selecting Joe Burrow 1^st overall, the Bengals added to a unique theme in the AFC North. Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore will all be led by Heisman winning quarterbacks heading into the season. Ben Roethlisberger, 38, underwent elbow surgery last season after going down in week two. For the first time in his fifteen-year career Big Ben failed to make double-digit appearances in a season. Mason Rudolph and Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges rotated starts as the Steelers missed the play-offs. Pittsburgh finished 31^st in passing yard per game with 186.3 and 29^th in rushing yards per game at 90.4. The Steelers were without a 1^st rounder this season and used their first selection, in the 2^nd round, on Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool. Claypool wasn’t one of the highest rated receivers in a deep class but at 6ft4 will be a solid vertical option for whoever flings the passes next season. Pittsburgh also added to their running back group with Anthony McFarland Jr, but he is unlikely to be their primary back for the year ahead with Conner, Snell, Samuel, Edmunds and Watt all sharing similar roles. Starting line-backers T.J Watt and Bud Dupree have been gifted some respite with the 3^rd round pick Alex Highsmith from Charlotte. It’s possible that the Pittsburgh Steelers have drafted just one starter for the year ahead. Side note, since the realignment of divisions in 2002, the Pittsburgh Steelers have never finished the season at the foot of the AFC North.

Green Bay Packers – It was two of football’s most successful organisations that ‘lost’ this year’s draft and under very similar circumstances. New England because they didn’t take a quarterback and Green Bay because they did. Before I unleash a tirade of criticism towards the Cheeseheads, I must admit, Jordan Love is a generational talent with a bright future. Love, likened by many to Patrick Mahomes, could well endure success in Wisconsin. Jordan Love’s fantastic arm strength and creative playstyle suggest he has the perfect intangibles to succeed in a fast becoming, pass heavy league. It remains unclear what the purpose of Love’s selection was, in terms of when he will feature for the Pack. What we are aware of is that Green Bay fans are not pleased with their team’s business. Supporters were crying out for a stud wide receiver for a quick fix. Aaron Rodgers has carried his side to two NFC Championships in the last four years and the overall feeling is that with a higher quality of throwing options, Rodgers might have added more jewellery to his collection. Drafting with the future in mind isn’t a terrible idea especially when the league is adapting to accommodate more mobile, innovative quarterbacks but the situation remains the same. The Packers need receivers in order to succeed right now. Green Bay did pick up tight end Josiah Deguara from Cincinnati in the 3^rd round (to replace Jimmy Graham) and a talented offensive tackle in the 6^th round, Jon Runyan from Michigan, but the signings went unnoticed. Green Bay haven’t had two 1,000-yard receivers since 2014. Love is an investment, but for now the Packers will have to be patient.